City BOE wraps up superintendent interviews

Thursday

The latest step in the Tuscaloosa City Schools superintendent search came to a close Wednesday as the last two of the six superintendent candidate semifinalists were interviewed.

TUSCALOOSA | The latest step in the Tuscaloosa City Schools superintendent search came to a close Wednesday as the last two of the six superintendent candidate semifinalists were interviewed.The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education interviewed candidates Debra Pickett, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Marietta (Ga.) City Schools. and Barry Carroll, superintendent of Alabama's Limestone County Schools in Athens. Each were asked the same 30 questions that the other four candidates were asked in previous nights.Both candidates have spent their careers in education and said during their separate interviews that they believe evaluating student data is key to determining a school system's problems and how to correct them.Pickett's answers were concise, which caused her to finish her interview earlier than the two hours allotted her, but her responses did cause the board to ask her to expand on her answers a few times.Carroll was the opposite. His answers were long, explanatory and gave vivid details and numerous examples about what he's done as superintendent and what he'd do if hired in Tuscaloosa. He went well over his two-hour interview period.Like superintendent candidate Paul McKendrick, Carroll talked a lot about using student data to guide his decisions. Also like McKendrick, Carroll brought the board a written plan on what he'd do in his first few months as superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City Schools if hired for the position.He also brought the board student data on his system. Pickett brought the board student data on her system as well.When asked what their leadership style is by board president Dan Meissner, both candidates said that they were collaborative leaders.Pickett also said that she's a democratic leader and doesn't believe in making decisions in isolation. Carroll added that he makes “data-driven decisions.”Board member Kelly Horwitz asked the two how their leadership influenced student achievement in the last three years in their most recent school systems.Pickett said that she monitors standards in her system that the state of Georgia test for and she inspects those benchmarks on a regular basis. She said that she gives each of her system's schools score cards that she uses to determine how well each school is doing at a given time.When asked the same question, Carroll said that he helped bring up the graduation rate at several schools in his district from in the 60 percent range to the 90 percent range using a six-year approach.He said that he studies student data to determine the system's strengths and weaknesses.Board member Harry Lee asked the candidates how would they build long-term trust and confidence in the system and the community.Pickett said she'd talk to each board member individually to find out what they want for the system.Carroll said he'd also get to know each board member, but personally as well as professionally.He said that he'd visit school classrooms frequently and talk to the city's residents everywhere he went.Board member Marvin Lucas asked the candidates for their definition of a successful school system.Pickett said that a successful school system is one that honors its employees, is dynamic, constantly learning and has involved parents and members of the community.Carroll said he considers a school system successful when it accomplishes its goals.He also said a successful system is one where every child graduates from high school, students are happy, students feel safe and secure and teachers care about the students.He said he believes that his current school system — Limestone County — is a successful one.Board member Erskine Simmons asked the two how they would communicate their vision for quality education.Pickett said she'd have to understand what the system's core values are before she could create a vision.“I bet I could find a common thread after I spoke to each of you,” she said to the board.She said that ultimately a vision for the system would have to be about student achievement.Carroll said he already has a vision for the Tuscaloosa City School System. He said it's a shared vision that includes the city, school system, board members and parents.He said he'd communicate that vision by talking to people individually and collectively.The board is expected to choose the city school system's new superintendent by the end of July.They'll interview the two or three superintendent candidate finalists on July 6-7. The finalists will also participate in a community forum at Central High School on July 6.

Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.

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